Iffy for 17+
Drugs, topless women make this comedy too steamy for teens.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Hot Tub Time Machine is like a college party weekend, filled to the rim with profanity, sex and sex talk, as well as drugs, alcohol, and a little fighting. Several sex scenes, which include topless women and some bare male bottoms, as well as near constant profanity (from "f--k" to "p----y"), make this a decidedly adult movie. One big joke involves the possibility of a straight man performing a sex act on his straight male friend. Some comedic drug and alcohol scenes, along with the film's focus on men re-evaluating their middle-age lives, also pushes it into mature territory. Older teens might enjoy the movie, but it's definitely intended for adults who remember the 1980s and grew up enjoying these kinds of teen party movies, especially those starring John Cusack (Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing, etc.).
- Families can talk about the concepts of change and regret. What do you wish you could change or do over again? Is it ever too late to change your lives? Is it impossible, or just more difficult, as one gets older?
- What did you think about the drugs and alcohol in the movie? Is it OK to use these subjects for humor?
- What kinds of things keep friends together over many years? What kinds of things cause them to drift apart? Are these a good or bad?
- What would life have been like in the 1980s? Does it seem simpler andmore appealing (without Internet or texting), or does itseem primitive and impossible?
The good stuff
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Messages: Despite the ultimate positive message -- that people have the power to change their situations -- the movie is filled with gags about drugs, fighting, and objectification of women that make its lesser messages something to note.
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Role models: None of the main characters are worth emulating: they are all sad, beaten-down, middle-aged guys whose lives did not turn out as they hoped, plus one twentysomething who spends all his time indoors on a computer. Their behavior throughout most of the movie consists of debauchery and indecision, and one character takes a morally questionable path at the end. But eventually the characters come to feel good about themselves and learn to deserve the good things they have. Perhaps the twentysomething, Jacob, is the most positive of the group; he seems to have gained some wisdom from the mistakes of his elders.
What to watch for
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Violence: The movie has a good amount of shouting and arguing, plus an ongoing series of mild fist fights with a bully.
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Sex: Aside from plenty of flirting, kissing, sexual innuendo, some naked male backsides, and some visual jokes about oral sex, there are two sex acts. One character has sex in a tub with a girl, but stops because he feels guilty about being married (although this is the past and he's not technically married yet). There is full frontal female nudity in this scene. In another scene, a character has unprotected sex with a woman (the point is to get her pregnant so that her grown son can continue to exist in the present), though no nudity is visible. A third sex act almost happens, a three-way between two guys and a woman, and the scene contains female frontal nudity and a naked male backside, as well as jokes about other parts of the anatomy.
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Language: This movie features almost constant swearing from beginning to end, including, most frequently, "f--k" and all its different variations. Other foul language and innuendo includes "s--t," "dick," "penis," "vagina," "p---y," "ass," "balls," "Jesus," "bitch," "slut," and many more.
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Consumerism: Many period products and brands, circa 1986 are shown and referenced, mostly for humor, including MTV, Sony Walkman, and Jansport. Pepsi is shown and referenced. And a Russian-made "Red Bull" knock off is essential to the plot. It's not actually "Red Bull," but the real "Red Bull" is referenced in comparison.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: These adult characters drink a great deal (beer, scotch, vodka, etc.) and do plenty of drugs, but it's mostly for humor. Many different kinds of drugs, from cocaine to Ritalin, are referenced and/or shown. One character eats psychedelic mushrooms, but they seem to have no effect. The same character also smokes pot from a bong. One scene should be noted: early in the film, a character nearly dies after drinking and driving and then parking in his garage with his car engine running. He is (jokingly?) referred to as an alcoholic.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
I felt the red flags.... by lovestalentmoviefan
....but ignored them because of Cusack. Should have listened to my intuition. What small amount of story,wistful melancholy for youthful integrity and "humor actually" were possible were totally obliterated by crass and obnoxious behavior /nudity. Not the occasional gross reference or sexual innuendo....but outright aggression in vulgar language, men and women acting like sex was just some animal sport and antagonism towards decency and eachother as characters. The opening montage of the gents involved,culminating in a great air band type performance by one of the leads in his garage gives you hope...alright,this is going to be good. This quickly dissolves when the "loser" friend is visited in the hospital by pals who really don't have anything good to say about him,which is understandable when he gets them drenched with urine in a lukewarm catheter pulling gag This is nasty.
2
Stupid by birac
No class,and greased with raunch,which makes it unfunny. Would have been better without all that terrible language and bad, wannabe actresses flashing their chests for no reason. Real flop,that I thought was going to be much better,just cuz of Cusack.
1
Bad writing for what was initially a good idea by LTMF 2
Did all my crying in first review about the vulgarity in this attempt at "this year's Hangover". Let's address the story itself. Scattered, catch word comic antics and safety net material to pander to teenage boys is all that comes to mind. Seriously,I saw fringes of good ideas,that someone got too complacent to follow through on. When the look of the movie is good,and you have enough drugs and f-bombs to take up time,quality writing goes out the door. This movie made me appreciate The Hangover a little more for at least some original ideas, and talented intelligent reactions. Also that group of friends seemed to have more unity in their posse,whereas this crew were all seperate entities for the most part. The ending was impressive compared to the rest,so if you don't mind sitting through ridiculous antics and extremely offensive sexual situations and language...go for the ending. I went for Cusack,and I think the whole male cast has potential with a smarter script. All the women:{
2
HOW EMBARRASSING by keatsgirl
OK. I AM 24,PRETTY,HOT BOYFRIEND AND GREAT PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP. I AM A BELIEVER,BUT STILL ENJOY GOOD TIMES AND REALIZE I'M NOT PERFECT,OR ALWAYS A GOOD EXAMPLE TO OTHERS. SO...DON'T BLOW THIS OFF BECAUSE YOU THINK EVERYONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY IS UPTIGHT OR JEALOUS OR JESUS FREAKS OR WHATEVER ...THIS IS TRASH. DOESN'T ANYBODY THINK THAT THE ACT OF SEX IS SPECIAL AND PRIVATE ANYMORE? DOES IT BOTHER ANYONE THAT JOKES AND PORNOGRAPHY AND ZERO MORALS ARE PORTRAYED IN MOVIES LIKE THIS AS SOME KIND OF "COOL" WAY TO LIVE? AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE LANGUAGE..AND THESE GIRLS JUST ACTING LIKE TOTAL SLUTS ON SCREEN...MAYBE MOM WASN'T SO WRONG AFTER ALL!
1
Utter Garbage by daddowdall
We should have guessed it would be bad from the lame title of this piece of dreck. What a waste of money, time and an otherwise nice afternoon. Just absolutely no redeeming value at all. When did they start leting retarded twelve year olds write scripts and direct films?
4
Hot Tub Time Machine is very funny, but not for everyone! by thesilentcat4
Hot Tub Time Machine is a genuinely funny movie. I know a lot of people will just look at the title, see how dumb it sounds, and be put off about seeing it. DON'T DO THAT! Ever hear of, don't judge a book by its cover? Well right here is a good example of when NOT to do it. This movie is a great comedy, and it has some great funny moments. Yes, some of the stuff throughout the movie is pretty dumb and ridiculous, but it is such a funny movie! I would say if you liked "Eurotrip" or "Harold and Kumar", then you will love this!! If not, then I wouldn't see this. Like i said, its not for everyone because some people just don't understand this kind of humor. But thats not most people, so go see this!
GOOD MOVIE, go see it
2
Terrible!!!! did not enjoy it all........ What a waste of money by SandyofAuburn
Terrible!! Waste of money and time.....bad acting and didn't need the nudity and bad language...
1
If you like poop jokes and projectile vomiting this movie is for you! by akdouglas
Soooooo made for junior high school boys. If you're over 22 you will just find it disgusting. About a third of the audience walked out when we saw it, including us. We gave it a chance, we really did. We waited through the dog poop joke, the catheter joke, the anti-homosexual jokes and slurs, the mysogynistic jokes, the end-goal of getting completely drunk.... but it was the projectile vomiting about 10-15 minutes in that just pushed us over the edge. Not for anyone.
4
Very well done by eadler
The character interactions were done very well. Very witty movie. Certainly some laugh out loud moments, but the Hot Tub Time Machine did not rely on overly silly or childish humor to create laughs. The acting and directing were excellent. The story line was a bit lacking, but not to a fault. I would recommend Hot Tub Time machine to teenagers and adults but not kids, and probably not senior citizens.
1
Five Word Review by maggielucy
DISGUSTING VULGAR GROSS STUPD WALKEDOUT